Nature and Adventure Animalia Kingdom | Mammalia | Malayan Sun Bear - Honey Bear - Helarctos malayanus

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Animalia Kingdom | Mammalia | Malayan Sun Bear - Honey Bear - Helarctos malayanus
Written by Shirley T   
Monday, 20 April 2009 05:30



Malayan Sun Bear is the bear that loves honey! So it is also called Honey Bear (but this is not Pooh Bear though!). The smallest in term of size among all bear species, Sun Bear is known scientifically as Helarctos malayanus (binomial name).
A pair of restless Sun Bears
The standing Sun Bear can reach about 1.2m height and the male grows larger than the female. Its body fur is black or dark brown and the most significant attribute to recognize Sun Bear is to look for an orange - yellow patch of horseshoe shape on its chest which is resembling a rising sun, giving it the name Sun Bear. Similar colored fur is also visible near its eyes and muzzle.
Drinking or playing with water?
Being a nocturnal creature, Sun Bear spends most of the day time sleeping or sun bathing in trees. Primarily found in tropical forest of Thailand, Burma, Peninsular Malaysia, Java, Sumatra and Borneo, Sun Bear does not hibernate thus, they can reproduce all year round. The matured female of age 3 - 4 years usually can give birth to one or two blind and hairless cubs after a gestation period of approximately 3 months.

As a bunch of expert climbers, Sun Bear can reach up to trees for fruits, bees and honey as food. Among other diets include earthworms, snails, termite, eggs, lizards and rodents.
A lovely Sun Bear enjoys bathing under hot sun!
According to the most recent conservation status by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Sun Bear is classified as vulnerable mainly owing to destruction of their natural habitat and being hunted for its fur and bile medicinal value.

Save Our Nature, it is Our Future!
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